Current-modulator.



F. MORANO.

CURRENT MODULATGR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I. 1914.

1,288, 1 1 Y, Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

f7Z/67Zf07 24229165565.

FRANCESCO MORANO, OF ROME, ITALY.

CURRENT-MODULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1?, 1918.

Application filed September 1, 1914. Serial No. 859,586.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCESCO MORANO, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Rome, Italy, doctor of physics, (whose postofice address is Via del U. Uflizio No. 5, Rome, Italy,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Modulators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to those apparatus which serve for the generation of variations of current in electric circuits by physical or mechanical actions, said variations of current being proportional to the variations of those actions.

The chief object of the invention is a metallic microphone for high currents, which microphone is constituted by one or more metallic gripping contacts, each gripping contact being formed of two contact elements which are so arranged that one of them grips the other, and While one of them, via, the vibrating element is firmly mounted by the diaphragm, the other element is supported by supporting means in such a manner that the pressure of the contact which is formed by both elements, and consequently the electric resistance of the contact itself may be capable of varying in rigorous conformity with the vibrations of.

the diaphragm, viz., according to the amplitude or the intensity of said vibrations.

In order to obtain this object according to my arrangement the weight of the contact elements is prevented from exerting on the contact a pressure oblique to the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm, as a pressure oblique to the vibrations of the diaphragm hinders the regular variability of the contact pressure under the vibrations of the diaphragm. Therefore, in my arrangement the supporting means hold the second contact element in an orlentation which in the usual positions or orientations of the apparatus is invariably connected with the supporting means, or, in other words, said supporting means maintain the second contact element in a fixed angular position relative to said supporting means. I use this invariability in order to put said second contact element in an obligatory orientation, through which it may not exert on the other contact element a pressure oblique to the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm but may exert on it a pressure only in the direction of vibration, viz., normally to the diaphragm.

I Or generally, said second contact element is supported by the supporting means so that it may exert on the other contact element a pressure only in the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm, viz.: normally to the diaphragm itself. I

Of course said gripping contact as described may be applied to all electrical apparatus wherein is necessary a varying electrical resistance according to physical or me chanical actions. Inthis case the diaphragm of the microphone is substituted by an exciter, viz.: an organ or member which is capable of executing movements under said physical or mechanical actions.

For giving a clear description of my invention I suppose hereinafter to apply it to a mlcrophone in general, but I do not confine myself to this special application.

This invention is illustrated by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a microphone constructed with gripping contacts.

Fig. 2 shows the form which can be given to the hooks or rings of the upper plate of the apparatus.

The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

In Fig. l V is the vibrating body, which consists of a flat plate on which are fixed several conducting wires 1 each of which is provided with one or more hooks or rings as shown in Fig. 2 a, b, c. The conducting wires f are rigid and are provided at their upper end with a corresponding number of hooks or rings gripping with the hooks or rings of the vibrating plate. At the other end the wires f are mounted on the supporting plate and adapted to exert on the contact elements 1 a pressure only in the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm, viz.: normally to the diaphragm. The several contacts which are formed by the vibrating elements 1, and the still elements 7 are in Fig. 1 connected in series but, if required. they can also be connected in shunt or combined in any other way, thus forming an electric circuit having terminals -S S..

It is to be understood that said wires 1 and f can be substituted by conductors having any form provided with narrow ribs for instance. It is also to be understood that it is not necessary that both conductors 1 and f be provided with rings or hooks, as it is suiiicient that they be constructed in any form which will enable one of them to grip the other. Also, it is not necessary that said contact elements 1 be mounted on the diaphragm as it is. Sufficient to arrange them near the diaphragm in any manner which will enable them to follow the vibratory movements of the diaphragm. Finally, it is not necessary that the contact elements vf be fixed on the supporting body as it 's sufiicient for them to be so mounted on it that the orientations of said contact elements shall be invariably connected with said supporting body, or in other words that the angular position of said contact elements shall be fixed relative to said supporting body. Through this arrangement of contact elements 7' we can, by properly arranging the supporting body, put them in a position through which they can exert on the contact elements 1 a pressure only 1n the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm, viz.: normally to the diaphragm itself. Or generally it is sulficient that said contact elements 7 be mounted on the supporting body in any manner which Wlll enable them to exert on the contact elements 1 a pressure only in the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm, viz.: normally to the diaphragm itself. I

Manv difiiculties arise in the construction of apphratus of the present general character in consequence of the errors of construction and or the rigidity of the system, but as they are well known it is not deemed necessary to describe or illustrate them herein.

The apparatus above described can not only serve as microphonebut alsoas electric repeater. To this end it is sufiic ent that the'vibrating system instead of being submitted to the action of sound Waves be submitted to the action of an electromagnetic system excited by a telephonic current or by a previously regulated or modulated current.

The same apparatus can be besides used for the purposeof studying or applying in a practical way physical or mechanical phenomena which involve a variation of the tension at the points of contact, for 1nsta the weight, the heat, the electric and electromagnetic actions, the wind, etc. In this case the vibrating system of the microphone is replaced by an exciter which consists of a plate or other device constructed in such a Copies of this patent may be obtained for manner as to be capable of receiving the action of said phenomena thus producing variations of tension at the points of contact.

I claim- 1. A current modulator comprising a diaphragm, a contact element firmly mounted'thereby, a second contact element, one of said contact elements gripping the other, and supporting means maintaining the second contact element in a fixed angular position relative to said supporting means.

2. A current modulator comprising a diaphragm, a series of contact elements firmly mounted thereby, a second series of contact elements, supporting means, connections for conducting an electric current through the various contact elements, each contact element of one series gripping a core tact element of the other series, and said supporting means maintaining each contact element of the second series in a fixed angular position relative to said supporting means.

3. A current modulator comprising a diaphragm, a contact element firmly mounted thereby, a second contact element, supporting means, one oI said contact elements gripping the other, said second contact element being supported by the sup porting means and adapted to exert on the other contact element a pressure only in the direction of the vibrations of the diaphragm, viz: normally to said diaphragm.

4. A current modulator comprising a diaphragm, a series of contact elements firmly mounted thereby, a second series of contact elements, supporting means, each contact element of one series gripping a con' tact element of the other series, and each contact element of the second series being supported by the supporting means and adapted to exert on the other contact element a pressure only in the direction of the *ibrations of the diaphragm, viz: normally to said diaphragm.

5. In a current modulator a contact element movable in a direction, a second contact element, supporting means, one of said contact elements gripping the other, said second contact element being supported by the supporting means and adapted to exert on the movable contact element apressure only in the direction of the movements of said movable contact elements In testimony whereof I have signed my five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

